CAMP WINOKA
Winoka Camping Grounds
Located just off the interchange of Hwy's 60 and 65, near lake Springfield. The entrance is just a short distance from the old Springfield Bridge, which spans
above Lake Springfield.
Once known as Winoka lodge, Winoka Camp Grounds. was owned by the Schweitzer family during the 1920's and used by the family as a summer home. The
name "Winoka" means "Great Spirit".
Legend states that the Camp was once the location of a Girl Scout Camp, and in the late 1970's a crazed lunatic abducted three girlscouts from their beds
during the night and after sexually assaulting his three young victims, he murdered them. This is merely legend, research has found that the Campgrounds were
never property of Girlscouts of America and were not the site of the murder, that in fact the three girls, ages 8, 9, and 10 were abducted and murdered on June
13, 1977 at a Girl Scout Camp near Locust Grove, OK. The actual site was immediately closed and never opened again. The murder remains unsolved to this
day. A convicted rapist was aquitted of all three girls murders and was returned to prison to serve time for other charges, he died 3 months later in prison of a
massive heart attack.
The fact is that the location is believed to be the site of paranormal activity. The camp was built atop ancient Indian burial grounds.
I have actually tracked my way through the heavily wooded area, along Lake Springfield. I was accompanied by my husband Todd and a friend Bo. Initially
another friend joined our midnight outing, but quickly retreated from the woods after she and I were both walking along the trail, I was a few steps in front of her
when we heard what can only be explained as a gutteral expultion of air, however, the sound was very audible and we both felt as if somethng brushed past us
as this happened. It was very eerie. I continued on with Todd and Bo, the trail is quite tretcherous, especially after dark. A huge tree lies across the path at one
point and requires you to climb over it. A little further along the path is a massive gully which is about 10-12 ft. deep. The only way across the trench is a small
path of dirt and tree roots, which require some effort to cross. We came upon some stone pillars with graffiti on them and then we came upon what appeared to
be an old well which had been capped, located in the center of a dug out, concrete and rock landscaped area. Much to all of our surprise was our next encounter.
There was an old, abandoned pool, overgrown by vines and littered with graffiti, which had a freshly built campfire burning in the middle upper edge of it. We were unsettled by this finding, especially because no other people made themselves known to us, even after we announced out loud who we were. I took some
photographs of the area and we retreated from the Campgrounds. As we approached the area where Heather and I had had an ealier encounter, Bo was quite a
way up the trail ahead of Todd and I, when again we heard a loud gutteral grown come from the woods, I had to force myself not to run.
upon my research of Winoka I came across an interesting article about a Hellhound, I do not believe this creature to be a hell hound without seeing it myself. i do however wish to investigate. The following is an article about Winoka when it was burned down.
1977 Newspaper article about the fire that destroyed Winoka Lodge
Fire ruins historic lodge, damages 2 apartment units
by Jack King
Fire marshals continued their investigation today into a blaze that destroyed the historic Winoka Lodge, an old farmhouse just east of the old Highway 65
bridge, at Lake Springfield.
The fire, which may have been a case of arson, inspectors say, was one of three major blazes battled Sunday and early today by city firemen. Cigarettes
were blamed as causes for the other two, both at apartment buildings.
No injuries were reported.
Concrete steps and a brick fireplace are about all that remains to the house, also known as the old Schweitzer place.
The unoccupied, three-story structure was engulfed in flames when Springfield Fire Unit 7 arrived at 2:25 a.m. Sunday.
The house and property is jointly owned by Mr. And Mrs. Lee Schweitzer, 2608 Glendale, and Jewell Schweitzer, 2550 South Luster, and Robert Fred
Schweitzer, 637 South Fremont.
* * *
Built about 1890, the structure once served as a hunter's club.
One of the early owners of the property, which originally included 54 acres and 11 springs, was Dr. Edward M. Shepard, who taught biology and geology
at Drury College from 1878 to 1908.
He sold one-quarter shares to Judge James R. Vaughn, Judge Jeremiah Cravens and Marcellus Holbrook. Cravens and Holbrook later sold their shares
to R. W. Stewart and Dr. D. F. Finel.
The name Winoka comes from the Osage Indian word for "great spririt," and flint in the area was used for arrowheads.
In later years, an arrowhead motif was followed in improvements and the works from an arrowhead-shaped fountain were donated to Drury.
The original property included an island in the James River, which was taken for construction of a highway bridge.
The Schweitzer family purchased the property in 1935. It had not been occupied in several years.
A pool and bath house are located on the grounds in the immediate vicinity of the house.
Firemen from Station 7, along with 6 and 9, also were sent to a fire this morning, at 4:52.
According to reports, a cigarette possibly was the origin of a blaze that damaged the apartment of L. Roberts, 2304 South Fremont.
Firemen apparently were able to confine the fire to the one unit, where a carpet, wall and night table were heavily damaged.
The apartments reportedly are owned by William Smith, 1739 South National.
* * *
About seven hours earlier, firemen fought another apartment blaze at 773 South Avenue, which damaged much of a unit occupied by Peggy Wilmes and
Kathy Sam.
The two were in the living room of their apartment when a cigarette which was dropped between the cushion of a sofa started a fire, firemen said. When
the occupants were unable to control the blaze themselves, the fire department was called and Stations 1, 3, and 6 responded.
"It's so scary," Miss Wilmes said, weeping as she clutched her cat, Karma. The pet and two others were rescued unharmed by firefighters while the two
young women waited.
Some grass fires also were battled over the weekend in the area.
Firemen from the Logan-Rogersville and Westside county units, with help from Boy Scouts, fought a Sunday afternoon grass fire between Division and Mill
Street, west of Mo. 125.
Sparks from a trash fire were suspected of causing the blaze.
taken from : http://paranormalexperience.wetpaint.com/page/Haunted+Springfield
Located just off the interchange of Hwy's 60 and 65, near lake Springfield. The entrance is just a short distance from the old Springfield Bridge, which spans
above Lake Springfield.
Once known as Winoka lodge, Winoka Camp Grounds. was owned by the Schweitzer family during the 1920's and used by the family as a summer home. The
name "Winoka" means "Great Spirit".
Legend states that the Camp was once the location of a Girl Scout Camp, and in the late 1970's a crazed lunatic abducted three girlscouts from their beds
during the night and after sexually assaulting his three young victims, he murdered them. This is merely legend, research has found that the Campgrounds were
never property of Girlscouts of America and were not the site of the murder, that in fact the three girls, ages 8, 9, and 10 were abducted and murdered on June
13, 1977 at a Girl Scout Camp near Locust Grove, OK. The actual site was immediately closed and never opened again. The murder remains unsolved to this
day. A convicted rapist was aquitted of all three girls murders and was returned to prison to serve time for other charges, he died 3 months later in prison of a
massive heart attack.
The fact is that the location is believed to be the site of paranormal activity. The camp was built atop ancient Indian burial grounds.
I have actually tracked my way through the heavily wooded area, along Lake Springfield. I was accompanied by my husband Todd and a friend Bo. Initially
another friend joined our midnight outing, but quickly retreated from the woods after she and I were both walking along the trail, I was a few steps in front of her
when we heard what can only be explained as a gutteral expultion of air, however, the sound was very audible and we both felt as if somethng brushed past us
as this happened. It was very eerie. I continued on with Todd and Bo, the trail is quite tretcherous, especially after dark. A huge tree lies across the path at one
point and requires you to climb over it. A little further along the path is a massive gully which is about 10-12 ft. deep. The only way across the trench is a small
path of dirt and tree roots, which require some effort to cross. We came upon some stone pillars with graffiti on them and then we came upon what appeared to
be an old well which had been capped, located in the center of a dug out, concrete and rock landscaped area. Much to all of our surprise was our next encounter.
There was an old, abandoned pool, overgrown by vines and littered with graffiti, which had a freshly built campfire burning in the middle upper edge of it. We were unsettled by this finding, especially because no other people made themselves known to us, even after we announced out loud who we were. I took some
photographs of the area and we retreated from the Campgrounds. As we approached the area where Heather and I had had an ealier encounter, Bo was quite a
way up the trail ahead of Todd and I, when again we heard a loud gutteral grown come from the woods, I had to force myself not to run.
upon my research of Winoka I came across an interesting article about a Hellhound, I do not believe this creature to be a hell hound without seeing it myself. i do however wish to investigate. The following is an article about Winoka when it was burned down.
1977 Newspaper article about the fire that destroyed Winoka Lodge
Fire ruins historic lodge, damages 2 apartment units
by Jack King
Fire marshals continued their investigation today into a blaze that destroyed the historic Winoka Lodge, an old farmhouse just east of the old Highway 65
bridge, at Lake Springfield.
The fire, which may have been a case of arson, inspectors say, was one of three major blazes battled Sunday and early today by city firemen. Cigarettes
were blamed as causes for the other two, both at apartment buildings.
No injuries were reported.
Concrete steps and a brick fireplace are about all that remains to the house, also known as the old Schweitzer place.
The unoccupied, three-story structure was engulfed in flames when Springfield Fire Unit 7 arrived at 2:25 a.m. Sunday.
The house and property is jointly owned by Mr. And Mrs. Lee Schweitzer, 2608 Glendale, and Jewell Schweitzer, 2550 South Luster, and Robert Fred
Schweitzer, 637 South Fremont.
* * *
Built about 1890, the structure once served as a hunter's club.
One of the early owners of the property, which originally included 54 acres and 11 springs, was Dr. Edward M. Shepard, who taught biology and geology
at Drury College from 1878 to 1908.
He sold one-quarter shares to Judge James R. Vaughn, Judge Jeremiah Cravens and Marcellus Holbrook. Cravens and Holbrook later sold their shares
to R. W. Stewart and Dr. D. F. Finel.
The name Winoka comes from the Osage Indian word for "great spririt," and flint in the area was used for arrowheads.
In later years, an arrowhead motif was followed in improvements and the works from an arrowhead-shaped fountain were donated to Drury.
The original property included an island in the James River, which was taken for construction of a highway bridge.
The Schweitzer family purchased the property in 1935. It had not been occupied in several years.
A pool and bath house are located on the grounds in the immediate vicinity of the house.
Firemen from Station 7, along with 6 and 9, also were sent to a fire this morning, at 4:52.
According to reports, a cigarette possibly was the origin of a blaze that damaged the apartment of L. Roberts, 2304 South Fremont.
Firemen apparently were able to confine the fire to the one unit, where a carpet, wall and night table were heavily damaged.
The apartments reportedly are owned by William Smith, 1739 South National.
* * *
About seven hours earlier, firemen fought another apartment blaze at 773 South Avenue, which damaged much of a unit occupied by Peggy Wilmes and
Kathy Sam.
The two were in the living room of their apartment when a cigarette which was dropped between the cushion of a sofa started a fire, firemen said. When
the occupants were unable to control the blaze themselves, the fire department was called and Stations 1, 3, and 6 responded.
"It's so scary," Miss Wilmes said, weeping as she clutched her cat, Karma. The pet and two others were rescued unharmed by firefighters while the two
young women waited.
Some grass fires also were battled over the weekend in the area.
Firemen from the Logan-Rogersville and Westside county units, with help from Boy Scouts, fought a Sunday afternoon grass fire between Division and Mill
Street, west of Mo. 125.
Sparks from a trash fire were suspected of causing the blaze.
taken from : http://paranormalexperience.wetpaint.com/page/Haunted+Springfield